Three-way valve



7, 1942l 2 sheets-sheetV 1 Bmw D. W. HOPKINS THREE WAY VALVE Filed Dec.

Aug. 28, 1945.

` Aug. 28,l 1945.

D. W. HOPKINS 2,383,86

v THREE WAY VALVE Filed Dec. 7, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORN E Y.

Patented Aug. 2s, 1945 UNITED STATES- ,PATEIWII OFFICE 2,383,861 l THREE-WAYVALVE f i David W. Hopkins, Philadelphia, Pa. Application December 7, 19'42, Serial No.` 468,155

1 claim. (o1. iai-144)` This invention relates to three way valves, and pertains particularly to a three way valve controlled by two coupled butterfly vanes.

In an application Serial No. 449,935, led July 6, 1942, now Patent No. 2,351,613, granted June 20, 1944, I disclosed a three way valve comprising a cylindrical conduit intersected by `a common ported extension controlled' by a single butterfly vane. This represents a valuable addition to the art of valves. It renders excellent and exact valve functions in practically every situation, but, owing to the length of the oval vane compared to its width, the vane, in order to clear the common opening and bear only against the cylindrical portion of the valve body is necessarily disposed in the passage or conduit at approximately 50 to the axis of the cylindricalportion in a closed disposition thereof. This requires considerable power, owing to the extra leverage of the elongated oval vane. It. also militates against sharp control of the flow pursuant to a slight vane movement incident lto the rmerest cracking of the valve, whereas in a butterfly valve with a more nearly normal disposition of the valve in the seated position, say of approximately 80, an appreciablecracking lcan be accomplished with the formation of the merest trickle opening. This will be readily understood when it is realized that with a setting of 50, a valve vane movement of say 1 has a large component transverse of the conduit to open a wide passage, whereas with a setting of approximately 80, a vane movement of 1 has its largest component axially of the conduit with a consequent minute or thin opening in the conduit, by which a mere trickle of iiuid can be controlled; Thus, for trickle flow control and tight shut off, for instance, such three way valve as is disclosed in said application is not very eicient in certain large valve sizes.

It is among the objects of this invention; to provide improvements in valves; to provide a valve body with a pair. of individual 'vanes for control purposes; to provide a pair of butterfly valves in coupled relation; to provide a mixing valve with a pair of individual control vanes which is arranged for adjustment for forming a threeway valve; to provide a fixed linkage for apair of relatively adjustable oscillatable valvev elements; to provide valve control mechanism of simplicity and a wide range of control j to provide a single valve body with three openings with each of two of the openingscontrolled respectively by a" vane, with control linkage such that the said two openingscan be'used as fluid intakes for fluids to pass in merged condition through the third opening, and the linkage being susceptible to adjustment so that either of the two openings can be selectively coupled with the 'third opening, while the other of the said two openings is closed; to provide a three-way valve body with a common port and two selective ports with individual butterfly vanes betweenk the commonlport and the respective selective ports with a control whereby the establishment of a fluid passage lbetween a selective and the common port will be accompanied by the closing of communication vbetween the common port and the other selectivepport; to provide in a valve a pair of butterfly vanes disposed in a cylindrical conduit therein at such an obtuse angle as to facilitate l` close flow control; to reduce the power requirements of three way valves; to provide a-pair of coupled butterfly vanes in a valve in such manner that'the closing torque of one augments' the torque required to open the other; to provide in a valve a pair .of buttery vanes, each so designed that uid pressure with a small pressure drop in either direction urges the vanes toward closing,with means coupling the vanes for synchronous movementin the same direction, but with the vanes'oppositely inclined so thatone vane closesl with a clockwise movement andthe other with ay counter-clockwise movement so that the closing urge of one vane augments the 'torque on 'and therefore reduces the power necessary to open the other; and other advantages' will become more apparent as the description proceeds. l l

In carrying out the invention ini a preferred embodiment, a singley T-shaped valve body is provided, with port apertures at the free ends of the cross bar and leg thereof, a butterfly vane is provided in bothr sides of the cross bar besides ythe leg in position to control the flow through the -adjacentport aperturev of the cross VIbar as each swings appropriately on its pivot, an arm is mounted to project radially from the axis of one vane pivot so as to move-flxedly therewith, an arm is mounted to project radially from the axis of the other vane coupled through an adjustable .connection to the pivot of said other vane to move therewith, a link connectsA the free-'ends of both arms for coupling them permanently in xed driving relation, and a power unit is disposed 'so as to selectively move one vane. The adjustable connection is such that the 'particular vane can assume any desired-,angular position the three-way valve with unidirectional flow, andin dotted lines the other relatively adjusted posiiizion of vthe vanes for an opposite unidirectional Fig. 4 represents a diagrammatic section through the T-shaped valve showing in full lines one relatively adjusted position of the respective butteriiy venes for one bidirectional iiow operating condition. of the three-way valve and in dotted lines .other relatively adjusted positions of the vanesfor different bidirectionai flows; and Fig. 5. represents .a fragmentary plan, partially insection, of the variablycoupled arm and vane In the preferred embodiment of the invention a. generally T-shapedvalve housing 1.0 is provided, having a substantially cylindrical through channel or conduit II asthe .cross bar of the T, terminatingin the conventionally flanged mouth, or portopening I2 atene end, and at the other inthe similar-hanged mouth' or port opening I3. The openings. I2 and i3 are concentric `Withthe longitudinal'axis of the conduit Il'.l Extending laterally inthehousing is theperpendicular short cylindrical. passage' I4 ending. in a common port er1-mouth I5, and-.forming the ieg of the T. The axisgof the passage I4 and mouth I5is preferably normal, to the vaxis -of the conduit i I, and is substantial-lycentered betweenthe flanged .ends-12 and I3..` The-short yextension I4 merges internally intorfthe transverse ...conduit .I I, by the carefully rounded corners I6, and there is a, short axial extent ofV conduit II between the extension I4 andthe end of conduit-:14, at their'cioses points, as atLH and-I8 respectively.A 1 I y.A butterfly vane ZI)s preferably provided as the valve controllingelemenugis -pivoted .on-an axis 2I lying in a longitudinal plane con-taininggthe axis .of the conduit II normal .tothe axis ci the mouth. I5 iandextension I4, andillustratively located'. in a .transverse plane normal to the axis ofhthe ,conduit II .and tangential .to the outer surface of the extension I4. The vane 20 is prefshaft 22-'which may pass through a heat-dissipatingstuiiing box 2 3 mountedon the housing, 'as is disclosed 1in "said-application, and at its outer kend is connected-witha pcwer'unit-ZII having suitable limit switches (not shown) In the illustrative form disclosed, the power unit lcommises afreversible electric motirg.;provided with va declutching'element or otherwise Iprovided soi that afmanual control wheel '25 .may bev caused to function 4to actuate the .whole-.in :the event 'of power failure., i Illustratively :and not limtatively,

the declutching unit may be constructed in accordance with the disclosure of my application ser. No. 457,580, filed September 7, 1942. It will be obvious that any sort of power unit could be used in place of Ithe electric one disclosed, or that the entire valve actuation could be permanently manual if desired. rEhe lower end of the shaft 22 may be journaled in a suitable heat-dissipating stufhng box 29, while the upper end extends beyond the power unit -24 andcarries a pointer or indicator 26,.,which, if desired, may overlie a suitably graduated scale 21. Pointer 26 bears a ypredetermined angular relation to the vane 20, `preferably being parallel therewith, so that the v unit` 24, a rigid perpendicular splined arm 2B, which moves about axis 2I of the shaft 22 as the vane is moved. Suitable bracket supports 30 mountthe power unit i24 on the housing IIJ.

It will be vevident `that the edge .I9 of the vane 20 adjacent to the .extension I4 will seat against the short axial extension I'I of the conduit II, while the other diametrically opposite edge will seat on the opposite surface of the conduit II in the portion opposite to port III'and mouth I5. From this position, in which the opening I2' is tightly sealed with the vane sloping at an angle of approximately 80 to the conduit, the opening of the valve finds Athe upper edge. portion I9, adjacent to the extension, moving outwardly toward and through the flanged mouth i2 while the opposite end movestoward opening I5 in extension i4.

Itis to be noted that `vane 2.0, which is mounted and arranged to -c'lose with a clockwise vmovement, is made relatively thick, tapering from the center about axis 2l, for strength, and also to augment the obtuseness of the angle formed by the 'bevelled edge I9, with the advancing or inne;` surface of vane 20 in its closing.` This angle is at' the top of `vane 20 in Fig. 4 where it merges into edge surface I9. The appreciable area of edge I9 coupled with the obtus'eness of the angle just described forms in theV line of ow of the ventrance opening I2 a cambered 'surfaceA over which" the fluid accelerates, with a consequent reduction .of pressure against the advancing face of the vane in its closing direction. 'The difierential pressures Athus effective on opposite faces of the vane during a flow and thus during a drop in pressurejexerts'a closing torque on the vane due to new into entrance I2.` There 'is no -cor responding *flow phenomena'on the opposite redge .of the vaneduring flow into entrance i2 so that theclosing torque due to vdifferential pressures on one edge issubstantially unopposed and unbalanced at the other, so that the "vane urge' is toward closing. On the other hand, lthe opposite, or lower edge in the diagram ci 3 and 4, exerts .a corresponding dilerential pressure effect on the vane during hows outwardly of opening 42,which are inot opposed or balanced by the flow pas-t the opposite edge of ,the vane, so that the effective or resultant torque incident to flows out through .opening I2 .is also toward vclosing of thevane. gf r A Theeffective ltcufque production -oi the flows past the vane are augmented somewhat by the tact that the vane has as an incident of 'the bevel of ledge IB, a .greater area below the axis 2i than the {area above theaxis, on the inner surface of the vane, while thev outer'surface thereof has a greater area above than below axis 2|.

In each case, the area differential causes differential opposing pressures yon the vane in either direction of flow to exert a closing torque on the vane, so that a flow in either direction of vane 20 effects a resultant torque in a' clockwise direction, of great power.

In a similarly symmetrically disposed relation in the T-shaped valve the oppositely inclined complemental butterfly vane 3|, is pivoted on an axis 32, by being secured to a shaft 33, which latter is cooled, as before, by a stuffing box 34 above the vane. Toward its free end the shaft 33 carries a worm pinion gear 35 rigidly keyed thereto. The free end of the shaft carries the elongated pointer or indicator 36 which is maintained in permanent angular relation, preferably parallelism, to the vane 3|. The lower end of shaft 33 is journalled in stuffing box 39. An arm 31, having an enlargement 38 is provided at its inner end with a bushing 40 for journalling the arm on the shaft 33, for relative movement between the shaft and the arm. A hand wheel 4| is rigidly carried by a worm gear`42 journalled in the enlargement 38, in permanent mesh with the worm -pinion 35. It will be obvious that the 4angular relation of the vane 3| and the arm 31 can be changed t anything desired by simple rotative manipulations of the hand wheel 4 I. The free end of the arm 31 is pivotally connected to one end of link 43. of fixed dimensions and the opposite' end of 'the latter is pivotally connected to the free end of the permanently iixedly shaftcoupled arm 28. A fixed member is provided as at 49 upon which a graduated scale may be carried relative to which the pointer 36 can be read to establish exact angular dispositions of vane 3|. Vane 3| closes in a counter-clockwise direction and has the same flow-induced closing torque, and for the same reasons, as vane 20, except, of course, thatit is in the opposite direction from that of vane 20.

As shown in Fig. 3, with the vane 20 tightly closed and sealed in its end of the valve at the efcient angle shown, of approximately 80, the opposite vane 3| is preferably swung to a. wide open position on its pivot 3'2, which is accomplished by simply turning the worm screw or gear t0 change the relation of the vane 3| toits arm 31, then the port I5 serving as an intake mouth will have its entire intake flow discharged out through mouth I3. This is unidirectional. From this position a reversal of the motor 24 running the vane 2|! t0 its mid-position with the port I2 wide open simultaneously swings vane 3| on its pivot 32 to the tightly closed position for a reversed unidirectional flow. f

As shown in Fig. 4, in the full line position, the valve of this invention as used for bidirectional back-off the vane 3| on arm 31 so as not to have binding, if this is necessary. After vane'20 is properly angularly positioned, worm gear 42 is then actuated to secure, for instance, a vane position for vane 3| in conduit I I of a proportionate passage opening of say 45%. If now the limit switches on the power unit 24 are suitably set, and a time is used to energize the power unit, a timed sequential change of mixing rate can be secured, swinging or varying between the %-45% just mentioned, and its reversal, or 45%-55%. Obivo-usly, any other mixing ratio can be secured by simply changing the relation' of the vane 3| to arm 31, as shown in dotted lines in this gure.

From the position of Fig. 3 (and 2) it will be obvious that a small angular movement of the vanes on their respective pivots toward'cracking vane 20, for instance, will simply crack the valve and permit a small trickle, in place of the Wide iiow derivable from the same amount of valve opening of the single vane in the three-way valve of said application.

The disposition of both vanes inthe same housing minimizes any differential expansions incident to the heat of the fluids under control and moreover, any differential expansion of the valve body relative to the link of xed length coupling the two vanes if any should be developed, can be immediately and simply nullied by a slight turn of the worm gear hand Wheel.

The illustrative form disclosed is preferred for most installations, but it is to be observed that, within the broad scope of the coupling and actuating linkage disclosed, other types of valves may be controlled than the butterfly valves illustrated, just as two separate independent valves in a common line may be controlled by the arm adjustment and iixed linkage disclosed.

Itis of importance and is preferred that the respective clockwise and counter-clockwise closures of the respective vanes be provided as disclosed, as, not only does each vane .present a smaller torque requirement than the single vane of the three way valve because of smaller lengths of vane, but the coupling of the vanes for vsynchronous actuation finds the power requirement for opening still further reduced by the added torque secured by the closing of the coupled oppositely closing vane in its automatic urge toward closing.

flow, may, for instance, have port I2 coupled with 60 one source of uid supply, with opening I3 coupled to another and it is desired to have the valve 4 serve as` a mixing unit with the output passing through port or mouth I5. Conversely with the intake through port I5 to be divided and passed into po-rts I2 and I3 with controlled proportionate output from the respective mouths |2 and I3, the vane 20 may be moved about its axis until a desired proportionate passage opening, say of 55%, for instance, is secured, as determined by the indicator 26 on its scale, while, of course, changing the worm gear position so as to continuously Having thus described my invention, I claim: In valves, a, valve housing of T shape, a power unit mountedl operatively on the housing, an arm actuated by the power unit for pivotal movement l its respective arm, and visual indicating means in fixed relation to said selected vane element by which its angular relation to its said arm' can 'be observed.

DAVID W. HoPxINs. 

